Magisterial Inquiry Ordered into Custodial Death of Haryana Resident at Jammu’s Gandhi Nagar Police Station

JAMMU, MARCH 29, 2026 — Following the sudden death of an accused individual in police custody, the District Magistrate of Jammu has officially ordered a comprehensive magisterial inquiry to ensure a transparent investigation into the incident.

The deceased, Parveen Kumar of Panipat, Haryana, was being held at the Gandhi Nagar Police Station under a court-approved remand when he reportedly succumbed to a medical emergency.

By mandating an independent probe led by a judicial officer, authorities aim to determine if there was any lapse in protocol or delay in providing medical intervention, upholding the legal requirement for accountability in all cases of custodial fatalities.

The inquiry will scrutinize the entire timeline of Kumar’s detention, starting from his arrest in Kolkata to his transfer to Jammu on March 25.

Investigators are expected to review the CCTV footage from the Gandhi Nagar Police Station and examine the logs of the mandatory medical check-ups that police claim were conducted regularly.

The magisterial probe will run parallel to the post-mortem examination being performed by a board of doctors at GMC Jammu, providing a dual-layered verification of the cause of death—initially reported as severe stomach pain.

In addition to the medical and procedural review, the District Magistrate’s inquiry will record statements from the family of the deceased, the co-accused arrested in the same case, and the police personnel on duty during the shift.

This move comes as part of the “zero-tolerance” framework for custodial negligence, ensuring that every piece of evidence is preserved under judicial oversight.

The final report of the magisterial inquiry will be crucial in deciding whether further legal action or departmental proceedings are required against the officials involved.